Westbound + Wandering | Night Six: River Spirits & Mountain Magic | Night 6

We slept like rocks. Not the sharp, jagged kind you regret stepping on barefoot, but the deep, grounded ones, the kind that have been nestled in mossy forest floors for ages, finally still for the night. This van has been SO comfortable. It's a bit insane.

Morning came. Tea for me, coffee for James. We rolled out of our cozy beds, made our mugs, and drove over to our friends’ condo to convoy down to Squamish. Today was rafting day: Cheakamus River with Canadian Outback Rafting. Class II rapids. Cold water. Big smiles incoming. https://canadianoutbackrafting.com/

The air was cool and quiet, the kind of stillness that only shows up before the sun fully stretches awake. We met our guide, Bri, who walked us through the safety talk: how to paddle in sync, what to do if you fall out (spoiler: don’t fall out). Then we loaded onto a winding school bus that zigzagged upriver through towering trees and early morning fog.

Our boat crew: Scott, Naomi, Arlene, James, me, and Emmett. A raft full of familiar faces and excited energy.

Watching Emmett get suited up, paddle in hand, wide eyes scanning the river was one of those full-heart felt moments. There’s something deeply special about watching a kid you love experience something for the first time. His gaze darted around the river, searching for fish or fairies or maybe even eagles, whatever magical thing his mind had conjured.(Side note: Squamish is the eagle capital of the world. We didn’t see one.)

The river was icy blue, pure glacier melt. It curled and twisted through mossy cliffs and forest so vibrant it looked almost edited. Massive, waterlogged trees stretched across the river like ancient relics, their tangled roots reaching below the surface like old bones. It felt mythical, a reminder that this river isn’t just here for our entertainment. It holds power. This isn’t the Grand River. Not even close.

The rapids were gentle enough to laugh through but strong enough to wake you up. That 90-minute float was the perfect kind of adventure: cool water splashing over the raft, sunlight filtering through the trees, and just enough teamwork to make us all feel like river legends.

Afterward, we dried off, met back in the parking lot, and devoured snacks like we hadn’t eaten in days. A bottle of water never tasted so good. On the way back to basecamp we saw two bear casually roaming around looking for something that smelled good I am sure.

James and I headed into town for a bit of van-life adulting: a sani-dump and a water refill. Then - twist my rubber arm - we found ourselves at a spot called The Lager House. The beer was cold, the playlist hit just right, and the patio overlooked something sacred: Howe Sound. https://www.houseoflagerbrewing.com/

This place has presence.

And not just because of the views or the granite or the sea air but because of something you feel. This whole valley hums with a quiet, mystical kind of energy.

Towering over it all is The Chief—a 702-meter granite monolith that guards Squamish like a watchful spirit. It’s one of the largest of its kind in the world. But even more than its size, it’s the story it carries that sticks with you.

Legend says The Chief was once a spirit who settled here long ago - choosing this place to rest, to root itself forever. And it never left.

You don’t just visit Squamish. You meet it. You share space with it. And if you’re lucky, it shares a little of itself with you.

We’ve got plans to stick around a few more days before heading toward Vancouver to visit some more friends and I can’t wait to really explore this place. There’s something calling here.

Later today, the boys are aiming to get in a quick ride before the lifts shut down at 5. I’ve got a date with a local coffee shop and a hard drive full of images from a recent shoot—time to download, maybe even rip through a bit more blog writing.

Tonight? Sushi. James has been hyping up this spot in the Village for days. And it’s just me and the boys - James, Scott, and Tollman. Good friends, fresh rolls, and a perfect end to a river-rich day.

In a few days, we’ll be swinging back through Squamish as we make our way down the Sea to Sky Highway—and this time, we plan to really explore.

James keeps threatening me with the idea of climbing The Chief. I just laughed. It’s only a vertical climb straight up. Yeah… that’s a hard no from me. Maybe next year. (Maybe.) Not as much video this day as we re fully present - not taking out phones out while rafting - and connecting with friends while here. We'll have more video footage soon - for now please enjoy the photo gallery - and be sure to select the BLUE little arrow to scan through them all.